Hinsdale D86 High Schools list R-rated films

August 20, 2013|By Annemarie Mannion, Chicago Tribune reporter

Students at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high schools, and their parents, can see a full list of which R-rated movies may be shown in courses now that they are listed for the first time on the schools' websites.

The lists, which include all movies that may be shown in academic courses, are in the Quick Links section on the right side of each of the schools' websites.

In the list on the Central site, it is noted that the lists are a compilation of the films that teachers may choose to show in their courses during the upcoming academic year. Central's list includes about 130 films that may be shown in various courses including Business Law, AP Language and Composition, and Film Studies.

The wide range of films that might be shown in classes at Central include "A Few Good Men", "Zoolander," "Good Fellas," "Easy Rider," "Reservoir Dogs," and "Friday the 13th."

The Central site states that during the first week of January and September parents will be asked to sign a permission form for the films studied in the child's course.

The six-page list on South's site also includes films such as "The Constant Gardener," "Silence of the Lambs," and two that last year generated controversy in Hinsdale Township High School District 86. They are "American Beauty" and "Brokeback Mountain," which may be shown in portions as part of a Film as Literature class.

School board member Victor Casini said he's pleased to have the listings on the websites.

"We have come a long way with the disclosure on the high school websites so that parents can make informed and timely decisions," he wrote in an email.

He said he would like to see the district provide even more disclosure including noting the exact time on the video a clip occurs when just portions of films are shown.

Casini, who was elected to the board in April, filed an objection last year with the district seeking to keep clips from R-rated films "Brokeback Mountain" and "American Beauty" from being shown in the film as literature class in which his son was enrolled.

Casini and other parents complained that the films are inappropriate for teens and portray sexual, violent and profane images they don't want their children to see. Other parents and community members, however, took a different stance, saying it is up to parents to decide whether their children should be enrolled in classes where such films may be shown.

Parental permission was required confirming that students in the class were allowed to view the film selections. District policy also states that no R-rated films shall be shown to students unless prior approval is received from the principal.

Casini's objection was denied by the former superintendent, Nicholas Wahl, but the school board decided it needed to provide more information to parents about what films may be shown in courses at both schools.

School Board member Jennifer Planson, who voted last year to uphold the former superintendent's decision to deny Casini's objection, said she thinks the lists are a good idea because they provide more information for parents.

"I think the objection highlighted the aspect of parent input into the curriculum that was missing," she said. "This was lacking and now it's corrected."

She noted that parental permission was, and still is required, for students to take part in classes where R-rated films may be shown.

"It goes through all the same checks and procedures," she said.

She said it's up to teachers to determine what films may be shown in class.

"As far as the list goes each teacher is responsible for their own content," she said.